LIFE AND MANNERS.] OXFORD. 317 "founded University College?' I stated (though, by "the way, the point is sometimes doubted), that King "Alfred founded it. 'Very well, Sir,' said the Ex 66 6 aminer, you are competent for your Degree !'"* Similar to this is the description in 1780 by the Rev. Vicesimus Knox: "The Masters take a most solemn "oath that they will examine properly and impartially. "Dreadful as all this appears, there is always found to "be more of appearance in it than reality, for the greatest "dunce usually gets his TESTIMONIUM signed with as "much ease and credit as the finest genius. . ... The "Statutes require that he should translate familiar English phrases into Latin. And now is the time when "the Masters show their wit and jocularity. I have "known the questions on this occasion to consist of an "inquiry into the pedigree of a race-horse!"† The Commissioners of 1850, who quote these testimonies, add, that at the time in question the Examiners were chosen by the candidate himself from among his friends, and that he was expected to provide a dinner for them after the examination was over. Oaths upon this subject, as upon most others, proved to be no safeguard. Oaths at Oxford were habitually taken because the law required them, and habitually disregarded, because their fulfilment had become impossible in some cases, and inconvenient in many more. From this ignominious state the studies of the University were not rescued till the commencement of the present century. In 1800 a new Statute was passed, chiefly, it is said, at the instance of Dr. Eveleigh, Provost of Oriel +, which reformed the whole system of Examination, and awarded honours to the ablest candidates. By another Statute, in 1807, a further great improvement was effected. A division then was made between the Classical and the Mathematical Schools, and the first who attained the highest rank in each was a future Prime Minister, Sir Robert Peel. The last century at Oxford was indeed as a valley between hills. Look either at the age which preceded, * Twiss's Life of Lord Eldon, vol. i. p. 57. † Works of Dr. V. Knox, vol. i. p. 377. Report of the Oxford University Commission, p. 60. ed. 1852. or at the age which followed it, and own their intellectual elevation. At either of those periods a traveller from London might, as he left the uplands, and crossed the Cherwell bridge, have wandered through the proud array before him of pinnacles and battlements, from where spread the cloisters of Magdalen, and the groves that bear Addison's name to the books and the galleries of the Bodleian, to that unequalled chapel of New College, or to that noble bequest of Wolsey, the wide quadrangle of Christ Church, and all the way met nothing that misbecame the Genius of the Place. nothing to clash with the lofty and reverent thoughts which it suggested. He would have seen many men of eminent learning and high spirit, men not unworthy of the scenes in which they dwelt, men not misplaced among the high-wrought works of Art, or the storehouses of ancient knowledge, — the foundations of Saints, and the monuments of Martyrs. There, in the reign of Charles the First, he might have seen the Heads and Fellows cheerfully melt their plate or pour down their money for the service of their Royal Master, willing to dare deprivation and poverty,-willing to go forth unfriended into exile, rather than bate one jot of their dutiful allegiance both to Church and King. There, in the reign of James the Second, he might have seen those cloisters of Magdalen the last and the firmest citadel of freedom. Or, if the lot of the traveller whom we suppose had been cast on these later days, if he had visited Oxford under the Fourth George, or the Fourth William, he would then, amidst some indefensible abuses, have found much, very much, to admire and commend. He would have found most indefatigable Tutors, most searching Examinations, most hard-fought Honours. He would have found on all sides a true and growing zeal for the reputation and well-being of the place. But in the middle of the last century there were none of these things. The old spirit had sunk, and the new not yet arisen. The general contempt into which Oxford had fallen in the middle of the last century is further indicated by a lively touch of satire in Lord Chesterfield's Essays. The writer assumes it as quite impossible, that any person well acquainted with that University could desire it to LIFE AND MANNERS.] THE CATHEDRALS. 319 become the place of education of his children. Speaking in the character of a country gentleman he says, "When "I took my son away from school, I resolved to send him "directly abroad, having been at Oxford myself!"* The remissness of the tutors at Oxford and at Cambridge led, of course, to other neglects of duty in those whom they had failed to teach. Such neglects were only too apparent in the Church of England of that age. Let us hear upon them a wholly unexceptionable witness - Dr. Thomas Newton, Bishop of Bristol, who died in 1782. In his Account of his own life this Prelate states, that by living and residing so much at Bristol he had hoped that his example would have induced the other members of the Church to perform their part also, and fulfil, at least, their Statutable duties. The Deanery, he states, was worth at least 500l. a year, and each Prebend about half that sum; and for these preferments the residence then usually required was three months for the Dean and half that time for each Prebendary. "But "alas!" continues the worthy Prelate, "Church more shamefully neglected. "several times been there for months together without "seeing the face of Dean or Prebendary, or anything "better than a Minor Canon." And as, in some cases, there were undisguised neglects of duty, so in others we may trace its jocular evasion. We may learn, on the same Episcopal authority, that the Church of Rochester was in no less ill plight than the Church of Bristol; and that on one of the Prebendaries dining with Bishop Pearce, the Bishop had asked him: "Pray, Dr. S., what "is your time of residence at Rochester?""My Lord," said he, "I reside there the better part of the year.""I am very glad to hear it," replied the good Bishop. * Essay in "The World," May 3. 1753. In 1746 a poet describes as follows the reminiscences of a country clergyman while yet an Oxford Fellow: 66 never was The Bishop has "When calm around the common room, 66 'I puff'd my daily pipe's perfume, "Rode for a stomach and inspected "And din'd untax'd, untroubled, under "The portrait of our pious Founder!' See the "Progress of Discontent," in Dodsley's Collection of Poems, vol. iv. p. 257. ed. 1755. But the Doctor's meaning and also the real fact was, that he resided at Rochester only during the week of the Audit! * 66 66 Among the laity, as might have been expected, a corresponding neglect of Church ordinances was too often found. Bishop Newton cites it as a most signal and unusual instance of religious duty, that Mr. George Grenville "regularly attended the service of the Church every Sunday morning, even while he was in the highest offices." Not only was Sunday the common day for Cabinet Councils and Cabinet dinners, but the very hours of its morning service were frequently appointed for political interviews and conferences. † It is gratifying to reflect, how clear and constant since that time has been the improvement on such points. The Lord Lieutenant, and for very many former years the representative, of one of the Midland shires, has told me that when he came of age there were only two landed gentlemen in his county who had family prayers, whilst at present, as he believes, there are scarcely two that have not. We may also observe with pleasure, that many as were the neglects and shortcomings of the Clergy in that age, their lives, at least, were pure. No charge of immorality can, with justice, be brought against them, unless in such few and rare cases as in any very numerous body must, of course, in time arise. The Dissenters of that age, or some of them, might have more zeal, but had even less of learning. In some cases we find their deficiencies acknowledged by themselves. Here is one entry from the Minutes of the Methodist Conference, in May, 1765. "Do not our people in general talk too much, and read too little? They do." 66 66 To the neglect of education in that age we may also in part ascribe the prevalence of drinking and gaming. It is remarkable how widely the former extended, notwithstanding the high prices of wine. Swift notes in his account-book, that going with a friend to a London *Account of his own Life, by Bishop Newton; Works, vol. i. p. 126. ed. 1787. See for example the Chatham Correspondence, vol. iii. p. 337. ; and Franklin's Works, vol. v. p. 48. LIFE AND MANNERS.] HARD-DRINKING. 321 tavern, they paid sixteen shillings for two bottles of "Portugal and Florence.”* Instances of gross intemperance were certainly in that age not rare. Lord Eldon assured me, that he had seen at Oxford a Doctor of Divinity whom he knew, so far the worse for a convivial entertainment, that he was unable to walk home without leaning for support with his hand upon the walls; but having, by some accident, staggered to the rotunda of the Radcliffe Library, which was not as yet protected by a railing, he continued to go round and round, wondering at the unwonted length of the street, but still revolving, and supposing he went straight, until some friend. perhaps the future Chancellor himself-relieved him from his embarrassment, and set him on his way. Even where there might be no positive excess, the best company of that day would devote a long time to the circulation of the bottle. In Scotland, where habits of hard-drinking were still far more rife than in England, the principal landed gentlemen, some eighty years ago, dined for the most part at four o'clock, and did not quit the dining-room nor rejoin the ladies till ten or eleven. Sometimes, as among the Edinburgh magnates, there might be a flow of bright conviviality and wit, but in most cases nothing could well be duller than these topers. There is named a Lowland gentleman of large estate, and well remembered in Whig circles, who used to say that, as he thought, "the great bane of all society is conversa"tion!" The same hard-drinking tendency in Scotland may be traced in another fact, that while any young man of gentle blood was deemed to lose caste if he engaged in trade, an exception by common consent was made for the congenial business of a wine merchant. Gaming was abhorred by George the Second no less than by George the Third. † But, in spite of the Royal discountenance, it flourished through the whole period comprised in the present History. There is one case recorded of a lady who lost three thousand guineas at one sitting at Loo. Among the men, Brookes' Club, * Journal to Stella, October 8. 1710. † Letter of Lord Chesterfield to his Son, June 26. 1752, ad finem. Ann. Register, 1766, p. 61. |